The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes a credit union volunteer from Alabama or Florida who has selflessly contributed time, effort and talent to the development of the credit union movement in their state.

Turnquist began his volunteer service in 1978 serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the former Mobile Security Federal Credit Union. He served on the board for 14 years.

When Mobile Security FCU merged into Army Aviation Center FCU, he joined its supervisory committee. Turnquist also acted as the liaison between Little Flower Federal Credit Union and Army Aviation Center FCU that resulted in a merger in 2005.

He also worked with the CUNA Volunteer Achievement Program and attended various credit union conferences and seminars spanning his 35 years of volunteering.